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Interbike Madness

The outdoor demo was everything i thought it would be, and then some. One big fucking huge playground for adult bike dorks. It was PONIES and RAINBOWS all day long.

I wasn’t used to that kitty litter type of dirt at all. Dominic and I both spent time with the EMT’s. I crashed twice. Dominic crashed once and busted a couple of ribs. My knees are swollen and scraped and we’re both limping around like idiots.

These are the bikes I rode.

First day:
* SRAM 2×10
The only booth to have a Niner, that I could find.

Product – A+
Shifts smooth as silk. I was more about the bike than the 2×10 though.

Customer Service – C
Mechanics – F

A 45 minute wait to put our pedals on, 80 PSI in my tires that made me slip and slide like a fool, and just douchey attitude in general. “Don’t touch my fuckin’ tools” (to his coworker).

* Marin _______
It looked like Gnome’s bike but I don’t remember the model).

Product A+
1st time on full suspension. NOW I know why Gnome always posts “squish squish” when he rides his Marin. It was really sweet.

Customer Service – B
Mechanics – A

* Surly Karate Monkey (SS 9′er)
Product A++++
I am getting one. I spent most of my time on that bike.

Customer Service – A+++
All those guys were fucking RAD. We hung out there all day long.

Mechanics – A++++
Not even mad when Dominic crashed their Pugsley coming down the mountain.

After riding bikes in the desert all day The Canadian, Dirty Biker, and The Rev Dick took us swimming in Lake Mead. Dirty picked the rockiest part of the beach and we all swam out to an island made of humongous rubber tires with signs that said DANGER! in 3 different languages. The lake cops busted us and made us swim back. Good times.

We tested out the new comfort “sport” road bikes. The bike has an integrated headset so it’s almost impossible to get aero. It’s a super comfy bike and an excellent starter bike. Priced right too.

Product A+
Customer service A+
Mechanics A+

The rest of the day was spent on the Surly SS 9′er that I started calling “mine”. Me, the Rev. Dick, and Dominic climbed the hill that all the downhillers were taking a shuttle to. We had this awesome tailwind going up the hill so it didn’t even feel like we were climbing. The fucking wind on top of that mountain was insane. The downhill was fun fun fun. Until Dominic crashed trying to go over some boulder.

Dirty sat with me while the EMT’s tried to talk Dominic into going to the hospital. He wasn’t having any of it. After 15 minutes we were headed back to Surly and someone got talked into bouncing around on a Pusley in The Apesuit.

We might need to grade the SRAM mechanic on a curve. You never touch, much less use, another person’s tools. Never. A fireable offense in an auto shop and would put even the nicest wrench in a foul mood quicker than pissing on his shoes.

I second (or third or fourth) the “don’t touch my tools” bit. It is a mechanic’s right to ask his tools remain unmolested by the wandering hands of others. You cannot knock a guy (or gal) for saying such a thing.